How to Fix a Dripping Tap: Simple Steps to Stop Water Waste

The dripping tap serves as more than just a nuisance; it has the tendency to be a major source of water waste. Knowing how to fix a dripping faucet will save you money and conserve water at the same time. Be it the mixer tap in the kitchen that drips or the leaking bathroom tap, this guide will show you how to stop the drip and repair it yourself.

Why Is My Tap Dripping? Common Causes Explained

Your tap can drip due to a number of reasons. The most common ones are:

Worn-out washers or O-rings: With more and more usage, the washer inside the tap starts to deteriorate, leading to leaky faucets. This is happening more often in older taps.
Damaged valve seats: The valve seat is the joint between the faucet and the spout. A corroded or clogged area will make the faucet drip or leak.
Faulty cartridges within the mixer taps: The mixer taps regulate the flow of hot and cold water. When they wear out, this may cause a dripping mixer tap.
Improperly installed taps: Sometimes, a tap which drips water may only be due to poor installation.
Understanding the cause of your drip will help you know whether you just need a simple repair or a replacement of parts.

How much water does a dripping tap waste?

You have no idea how much it costs if the tap is leaky. One drop doesn't seem important, but it adds up over time. So the average dripping tap wastes more than 15 litres every day! That is roughly 5,500 litres every year. It is more economic to fix a leaky tap and also a good way of supporting water conservation.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Fix a Leaking Tap on Your Own

Let us illustrate how to fix a tap that drips, whether is the kitchen mixer tap or bathroom tap, by using this straightforward help guide:

Turn off the water supply: First and foremost, before doing anything, you have to turn off the water supply to prevent further leakage.
Removing the tap handle: The cap on top of the tap handle should be removed with a screwdriver and then unscrewed. In some mixer taps, both handles must be unscrewed.
The valve or the cartridge should then be removed: Once you remove the handle, there will be the valve or the cartridge. This is the part regulating the water supply and is perhaps the leakage point.
Check the parts: Check the wear and tear of the washers, O-rings and valve seats. Replace them if it does look that way. In case of a dripping mixer tap, replace the cartridge.
Reassemble the tap: After replacing the parts, reassemble the tap in reverse order.
Turn the water back on: Gradually turn the water supply back on, then test your tap to find if the leak is fixed.

In the case of more complicated taps, like the Franke tap or the monobloc mixer tap, different cartridges or parts are needed. However, the process is relatively similar.

When Should You Call in Professional Help for a Dripping Tap?

While most dripping taps can be repaired by a person with general do-it-yourself skills, there are occasions when a professional plumber is needed. If you have attempted to repair a dripping kitchen tap and the problem persists, or if the leak seems to be coming from a new location, such as the base of the tap or the handle, then seeking expert help is the best move.

If, however, the mixer tap that is dripping is part of a more complicated system, such as a Quooker tap, you should contact a professional rather than try to fix it by yourself since that can lead to additional damage.

How to Prevent Future Tap Leakings

Once you have fixed your leaky faucet, you can take some steps to prevent them from occurring again:

Be gentle with the tap: Avoid banging or being too heavy-handed when opening and closing taps.
Regular maintenance: From time to time, check your faucets for wear and tear. Replace the washers and O-rings if needed.
Water softeners: A faucet leak can be due to the hard water creating mineral deposits. Installing a water softener prevents this.
Replacing old taps: Sometimes, when your tap drips all the time, it might be the time to replace it with an efficient modern tap.

Knowing how to fix a dripping tap saves you water, money, and the environment. Be it a kitchen mixer tap dripping or a tap dripping from the spout in the bathroom, this article will lead you through the steps to fix it. If not sure, seek professional advice, while you also maintain it to avoid leaks in the future.

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